The Allure Of Street Gangs

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Shannah was drawn toward the gang lifestyle by people who promised her a sense of belonging and community.

At age 21, Shannah Angeles was turning her life around. Like many, she had embraced a rebellious streak during her teenage years. According to her family, Shannah became confused about her identity, and started hanging out with the wrong kind of crowd.

Shannah was drawn toward gang culture and sucked in further than she'd ever wanted by one of her boyfriends, who her family believes was a Latin King gang member.

Shannah moved from her home in small-town Kaukauna, Wis. to Illinois to live with her boyfriend. Over the years, Shannah gave birth to three children, who were her pride and joy.

But according to her family members, Shannah realized she was heading down a dangerous path after her brother, Joshua, died from Leukemia.

Thinking life was too short to throw it all away, Shannah made plans to get her life back on track for her kids, and for herself. She decided to enroll in college courses, and chose a field of study through which she felt she could make a difference: Criminal Justice.

Shannah confided in her mother that she wanted to help other young people who may have found themselves in the same situations she'd experienced as a teen. She felt she could use the knowledge she'd acquired on the street to prevent others from falling into similar traps.

Shannah broke things off with her boyfriend and concentrated on the new goals she'd set for herself.

In July 2006, Shannah made plans to visit friends in the Washington, D.C. area. She stayed in a hotel in Northern Virginia, but soon found her funds dwindling -- so she called a friend to come get her.

It was then that cops say an unfortunate series of events began to unfold, putting Shannah closer to the real gang world than she could have ever anticipated.

In Need Of A Place To Stay

According to police, Shannah's friend was taking a long time to get to the hotel because he'd gotten a flat tire on his way. When he called Shannah to tell her his status, she told him not to worry about it, and that she'd met a nice, clean-cut guy who lived right by the hotel with whom she was going to stay for a night or two.

Cops say Shannah's new friend really liked her and wanted to get to know her. He brought her to his apartment in Alexandria, Va., where he lived with several others, who welcomed Shannah.

But according to police, not everyone in the house that night was as nice. They say two guys, Henry "Droopy" Menjivar, and another guy known as "Slow" were members of the deadly street gang "MS-13."

Cops say the MS-13 gang thrives on violence, fear, and intimidation, and that they're willing to do anything -- no matter how violent -- to prove their allegiance to their gang.

Cops say that while Slow was a high-ranking member of MS-13's "Normandie Locos Salvatrucha" clique in Northern Va., 17-year-old Droopy was a relatively new member whose specialty was stealing cars and car parts.

According to police, Droopy was desperate to make a name for himself within the gang, and that night, he saw in Shannah his opportunity to do so.

Mistaken For A Rival

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Cops say Droopy was determined to make a name for himself within the MS-13 gang and was willing to do whatever it took to prove his dedication.

Almost immediately after meeting her, Droopy took a disliking to Shannah. Cops say Shannah was wearing a jersey with the number "81" on it and a bandanna, and Droopy instantly pegged her as a rival -- despite the fact that Shannah was never a member of any gang.

Cops say when Shannah took out her cell phone to take pictures at the house, Droopy became convinced she was trying to get information about MS-13, and mentioned to several people in the house he was going to "do something" to Shannah.

A "Green Light" For Murder

That night, Shannah went to sleep, and it seemed Droopy had forgotten about his threats. But when Shannah woke up on July 18, 2006, cops say she was given a warning by someone in the house that there were MS-13 gang members there who weren't happy with the way she dressed and talked. Cops say Shannah was distressed by the news.

But the warning came too late. Cops say Droopy was already determined to use Shannah to elevate his status in the gang.

That night, cops say Droopy called his clique's leader, Slow, on his cell phone, asking him to "green light" Shannah's murder.

Cops say Slow, always hungry for a kill, authorized the murder and began arranging for several other MS-13 gang members to help.

According to police, those gang members were "Crimen," "Spunky," and "Little Blue." Their job was to get the murder weapon and pull up outside the apartment complex. Droopy's job, cops say, was to lure Shannah out of the house.

Cops say that Shannah, having received a warning that Droopy was against her, was hesitant to associate with him. But cops say Droopy knew full well how to gain her confidence.

Cops say Droopy took a shower and shaved so he looked presentable, approached Shannah, and started sweet-talking her.

Police say Droopy made Shannah feel like he was a good guy who didn't care about her past, and once she started opening up to him, he told her he and some friends were heading to a house party and he wanted her to join.

Thinking the air had been cleared, Shannah agreed to go.

The Road To Murder

But in the backseat of the car, seated between Little Blue and Droopy, cops say Shannah began to feel uneasy.

According to police, the guys were speaking in Spanish about something serious, and Shannah couldn't understand them.

She didn't know what they were actually discussing: exactly where they were going to kill her. Cops say Little Blue wanted to pull off the side of the highway and kill her right there, but the others said it was too risky.

Cops say as they drove further and further away from the apartment, the area became rural, and Shannah realized something was terribly wrong.

Cops say when she finally found the courage to ask where they were actually going, they told her they were taking her into the woods to have sex with her.

Then, cops say Droopy took Shannah's phone.

At that point, cops say Shannah stayed quiet and stopped asking questions.

Eventually, they pulled the car over in a wooded area in Stafford County, Va., and demanded Shannah get out of the car. Cops believe Shannah was trying to cooperate in hopes that it would save her life.

Cops say Droopy and Little Blue led Shannah in to the woods while Crimen and Spunky stayed in the car.

Soon after, Shannah was shot to death as she begged for her life.

Cops Catch Wind Of MS-13 Activity

Cops say Droopy and Little Blue ran back to the car, excited by what they'd done, exclaiming, "The beast ate tonight!" and that the gun had "spit fire like a dragon."

Most excited, according to police, was Droopy, who felt he'd put in the ultimate work for the gang and was bound to reap the rewards for his dedication.

According to cops, Droopy couldn't keep his mouth shut about what he'd done. He bragged at local parks and to anyone who would listen that he had killed for the gang, according to police.

Soon, cops began to catch wind of an MS-13 murder that had happened in Stafford County, Va. And when cops looked into it, sure enough, they found Shannah's body in the woods.

But Droopy had made things easier on cops by bragging about his involvement. Cops were able to get the names of everyone involved, and soon had Little Blue, Spunky, Crimen, and Slow in handcuffs.

They were all convicted for their involvement, and were sentenced to various terms in prison.

Unfortunately, Droopy managed to take off before the arrests went down, and he hasn't been seen since.

According to police, Droopy likely has "celebrity status" within the gang now, and other MS-13 members may be helping him hide.

Cops caution that a person capable of coordinating an innocent woman's murder solely because he's so dedicated to a violent street gang proves he's willing to do anything and is capable of killing again.